Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Minnesota Environmental Science & Economic Review Board’s (MESERB) 2025 Winter Conference! It was great to see wastewater professionals from across the state come together to exchange ideas and support the research, study, and analysis of water quality issues important to Minnesota communities.
The day kicked off with Flaherty & Hood Attorneys Daniel Marx and Cooper Silburn discussing legal and regulatory updates related to PFAS, Sulfate, and Nitrogen, as well as key rulemaking updates at the state and federal level. Miranda Kleven, Senior Consultant at AE2S, provided an informative overview of cost-of-service (COSA) and rate studies for wastewater utilities, followed by a presentation from Flaherty & Hood’s Elizabeth Wefel, who shared her insights regarding what to expect in the next legislative session.
Later on, MPCA’s Scott Kyser and Suzanne Baumann provided a thorough update on the modern implementation of the Agency’s antidegradation rule, and held a robust discussion with members on its successes, challenges, and future. Finally, the day was capped off with an evening of networking, starting with a festive cocktail hour and ending with a lively game of Wastewater Jeopardy that pitted team Muffin Monsters against team Bio Reactors. Congratulations to team Bio Reactors for their win!
Event attendees earned 5 wastewater credit hours for their participation in our event. Physical copies of credit certificates were provided at the conclusion of the conference, but if you attended and would like a digital copy of your certificate, please reach out to Alex Wildfang at ahwildfang@flaherty-hood.com.
If you would like to review the presentations from the event, click the links below:
- MESERB Winter Legal & Regulatory Update
- Cost-of-Service & Rate Study Information – Miranda Kleven, AE2S
- 2026 Legislative Session Preview – Elizabeth Wefel, Flaherty & Hood, P.A.
- MPCA Antidegradation Update
We always strive to improve our events, so we would appreciate you taking the time to fill out a short survey about your experience during our Winter Conference at Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center in Alexandria. Click on the button below to submit your feedback.
If you have any questions about the conference or future MESERB events, please contact Cooper Silburn at ctsilburn@flaherty-hood.com.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Show your support for our organization and help us create the best events possible for members to learn and connect by being a conference sponsor! In return, MESERB will highlight and showcase your company before, during, and after the event. Our members will recognize your company as one that supports the research, study, and analysis of water quality issues important to Minnesota communities.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for one of our future events, please fill out our Sponsorship Contact Form to receive notifications about upcoming sponsorship opportunities.